Special Characteristics of Birds

Excellent Vision – BRIGHT COLORS ATTRACT MATES– RAPTORS CAN SEE PREY MILES OFF

Excellent hearing –– INSTINCT FOR THE SPECIES SONGS– LEARN VARIATIONS– OLWS USE HEARING TO HELP FIND PREY IN THE

DARK

Special Characteristics of Birds

Warm blooded– High energy demands!!!– “Eat like a bird” – you eat a lot !!– Need to keep eggs, young warm

Feathers evolved first for insulation– Most still just cover the bird’s body– Later some feathers specialized for flight.

Special Characteristics of Birds

High metabolism requires efficient respiratory system– Air Flows through lungs

Hollow bones to reduce weight– Strong enough for flight, not for walking, etc.– Flightless birds have heavier bones

Typically do not store fat– Too heavy for flight– Need to eat all winter – many migrate

Wing Shapes

Long Narrow– SOARING, GLIDING

Short, Wide– Power flight, agility

Hollow bones – strong and light

Do birds have ears???

Can birds see in color??

Feathers

Made of keratin – like our skin, nails and hair

Grow in distinct groups– All birds share these groupings of feathers

Replaced in seasonal cycles– Often before mating– Have Breeding and Eclipsed Plumage types

Feathers

Species differ in color and outline of feather markings– Do not differ in shape or arrangement of feathers.

Most important Flight Feathers are the Primaries and Secondaries, and Tail.

Flight Feathers

Feather groups:

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Flight

Wren

Forces forFlight

Riding Thermals

Hawks

Specialized adaptations to habitat

Bill types for feeding

Feet /leg types for – Perching– Wading– Swimming– Hunting

Spoon bills – dabbling ducks

Filter out Plant debris

Hooked bills

Hunting by Birds of prey

Long thin

Sipping nectar

Dagger Like – with sharp edges

Capture Fish Small prey

Long thin - strong

Hunt mud sand

Conical – Strong for cracking seeds

Hard dagger bill for pecking wood

Thin dagger

For catchingInsects

Webbed feet for water

Swimming Wading Protected from heat loss

Passerine Birds -

Have talons that grasp branches.

Can sleep – perching on branches

Other Feet types

Climbing – nuthatch, woodpeckers Hunting & Grasping– hawk, eagle talons Scratching- stir up insects in soil, leaf litter Running- Quail, Road Runner